Extinction

Qian, Sherlyn Tseena. C.                 1FM5                   Envi Sci

Reflection Paper

Before watching the video, I was not aware of what are the current happenings in our world. I was not aware that the foods I eat were the animals that were haunted and killed. My mom's bag that is made of crocodile's skin. While haunting of animals are happening, we are not doing anything about it. We do not realize that we are running out of time to stop those people from doing it because the species are slowly decreasing. We do not even realize how beautiful those creatures are. Not until I finished watching the documentary film. After watching it, it left me different emotions. I realized that, on the other side of the world, what they showed in the documentary is what the reality is. I realized that even though, I am not the one of those people who haunt and kill species for living and food, I am part of them because I admit that I am one of the people who eat those species and not doing anything about it, not realizing that those species were killed with no mercy. I feel horrible for the future. What will the earth be without those species? What about our future children? They can never have a chance to see those creatures. They can only watch it on the internet and they will ask us if those really existed. I know that people who watched this film have thought about humans are to blame but I can't say that humans are to blame and I can't say that humans are not to blame as well. Confusing right? I know. Humans are to blame because they are the reason why species are now extinct. But they are not to blame as well. As I've watched the video, they do that for living. Well they merely got a point but still, they have no right to kill creatures especially when creatures do not even harm them. Humans need to be nicer to our environment. Do we not realize how cruel the humans in the world are? Can you imagine those hunters going for fishing, using a bait to catch a manta by hook. Imagine the pain that manta is feeling. Struggling to swim, trying to get away. If that Manta Ray is unfortunate, those haunters will bring that manta to the shore and leave it there, dying. Suffocating. They may look like, they're emotionless but they're helpless. Those species that are made for products. And we buy those products for our own benefit. We buy those products because we think that it can cure cancer. We buy those products for our own satisfaction. We buy those products for fame and popularity. But we do not even know how it was made. Where it came from. It came from a living creature who was killed unconsciously. Where is humanity? This world is created for not us only humans but also for these species. They are not food! They are friends. We kill them for us to live but what about them? Do they not have the right to live in this world? We should not be selfish. Okay let's expand the topic. What I'm about to explain is not part of the documentary I was referring but I watched a video where humans use animals for circuses. They train them too hard that it is not called training anymore. It's abusive. Until that animal reached his breaking point and raged his anger. And still, the human is the victim? I have watched a video where an elephant escape from a circus and the cops start shooting that elephant until he dies. Oh trust me it will bring you to tears. And also, a video where a lion killed the trainer until that trainer died and the cops started shooting the lion. Remember, a creature won't harm you unless you did not harm them. Animals are left in wild life. And others are left in ocean life. They are not used for the satisfaction of humans. Humans. We are suppose to maintain the beauty of surroundings but we are the one destroying it. Where's the hope? The parts of the film that strucked me the most is the shark's fin. Imagine, in China, they cut off shark's fin for food and they leave that shark, finless. Unable to swim. How heartbreaking is that? I am not pertaining to China only, it maybe happening in other countries too but in this film, they showed China. So back to the topic, as I was saying, they cut off shark's fin for shark's fin soup? Really nigguh? I mean, I have tasted shark's fin soup and I have to admit, it is delicious. But now that I realized the struggle of that shark unable to swim because it's fin were cooked for the satisfaction of humans. Same thing for Manta Rays, Dolphins and Whales. Chinese people believed it can cure cancer, herbal medicines and more. Imagine, killing the species and leaving it on the floor, lined up. How disgusting does that look? Another part of the film that strucked me the most is when they showed 3D effects on buildings. It just woke us up to the reality that those species are slowly decreasing and we are not even doing anything about it. I couldn't agree more of what Jane Goadal have stated. Every eco-system around the world is finely balanced: from the plants at the bottom of the food chain to the apex predators, every species has a vital role to play. If a link in the chain is removed by extinction, then the fine balance is affected. Aside from species extinctions, the film also showed other subject matter like the stored methane from ice. Also the methane gas coming from cows. And also the effects of too much greenhouse gases in the world. As a student, what I can contribute to solve the problems in our environment is first, stop eating meats. I know it may seem useless but it is a help. If we stop eating meat, then sellers will stop selling meat and that will stop haunting meat. I don't mean it can completely stop but we can atleast lessen it and it would be a big help. And then, we love animals like how we love humans. I will repeat, animals and species are not food and enemies. They are FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I suggest you to spread the video so that it can wake them up to reality. Thank you.